Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[scabpicker]

I actually like the tones I've gotten out of class d markbass gear. Granted, it was at GC volume levels.

I'm trending in the other direction. I may just end up with an SVT and a fridge. Every damn time I play an SVT it's 100% what I want sound-wise.

I've owned a hybrid class D amp, multitudes of solid state and tube amps. I'm a pretty clever monkey, and understand a lot about electronics. But, I'm not an engineer, so take this with a grain of salt.

I haul around the Super Bassman because it's the one that sounds the best and has the watts to handle the shows. Tube amps just compress more smoothly, in a way you don't really notice as controlling your volume. It's not transparent, but tends to distort in a pretty pleasing way when you drive it even a little bit.

Some non-class D solid state power amps distort in a pleasing way, but the designer generally has to be pretty conscious of it to make it happen. It's more common for a solid state power amp to distort in a less pleasing way when you drive it - so the compression it provides is different from a tube amp, even if the engineer really knew what he was doing. Some people prefer the compression provided by certain solid state designs. I like them a lot myself, even on guitar.

Every class D power amp's specs I've looked at pretty much doesn't distort until you've got the master wayyyy past what you're likely to use. So you don't get much natural compression, and you've got to be pretty much spot on with your dynamics for it to sound nice and even. Now, I'm pretty much saying you have to be a better bass player than me to make a class D sound really good - and that's somewhat true. This compression could happen earlier in my signal chain, but I prefer it to happen in the power amp because it compresses everything before it. So, I carry around a boat anchor.

But! I have been eyeing a Bassman 500, since sometimes the house is big enough that I'm pretty certain everyone's hearing the PA instead of my power amp, and it's got the same preamp and direct out. Those gigs also seem to always be the ones where parking is frigging stupid. If no one's going to hear my power amp, anyway, why carry it a block?

Edit: But I'm not carrying around anything bigger than a 410 HLF. 8x10s are for guys with roadies.

tl;dr: It's a matter of taste, but it's hard to beat tube power amps for some situations.

 

[JBOWLES]

As far as class D amps, I’m running an Aguilar AG 700 with a GS212. I’m not unhappy with my setup, but I’m not thrilled either. I’d like to look at Darkglass since I’m a Vintage and a B3K, but would rather move toward that 200w Orange or something of the like. It’s difficult to get the “tube” sound with anything other than pre and power tubes working together.

 

[br1qbat]

Was it the music go round? I can't remember which one I frequented for a while that had one.

Huber & Breese

 

[br1qbat]

I'm just curious if you've tried any of the amp modelers, and if so how well they compare to the real SVT?

Nope. Never tried a modeler. I like a few knobs on a physical object. Screens, menus, etc just frustrate me. I'm trying to streamline my whole set up to one bass, one amp, one (or 2) cabs, and a few pedals.

I like simple, it forces me to focus on making music and not chasing sounds. I get lost up my own arse swapping pedals, running this thru that etc at the jam space. I just want a rig that 100% there soundwise and with as few components (hopefully) as possible.

 

[socialleper]

If you use a cab that doesn't color your tone to be too bright, or "modern" sounding, any good head with a comprehensive EQ will get you where you want to go. The number of pedals out there to create gnarly tones, from drive to full on fuzz, are too many to mention. IMO, getting all wrapped up in "tube tone" is something for guitar players to worry about.
In this genre there aren't many bass players with hi fidelity, articulate tones. That is sort of the opposite of what a lot of players are after. It is harder to get a clear tone with substantial character than a wooly mass of sound that will shake the teeth out of your head. Pedals and Pre amps are your friend. If you want to get weird about it, get a small guitar head and 2x12 cab, stack it with a small class D bass rig, and go to town.

 

[JBOWLES]

If you use a cab that doesn't color your tone to be too bright, or "modern" sounding, any good head with a comprehensive EQ will get you where you want to go. The number of pedals out there to create gnarly tones, from drive to full on fuzz, are too many to mention. IMO, getting all wrapped up in "tube tone" is something for guitar players to worry about.
In this genre there aren't many bass players with hi fidelity, articulate tones. That is sort of the opposite of what a lot of players are after. It is harder to get a clear tone with substantial character than a wooly mass of sound that will shake the teeth out of your head. Pedals and Pre amps are your friend. If you want to get weird about it, get a small guitar head and 2x12 cab, stack it with a small class D bass rig, and go to town.

Sometimes I use my Mesa Rectoverb 50 head and cab with my Aguilar. It gets a nice tone, but not everything I’m looking for.

 

[Batsquatch]

I had a sans amp bddi died on me in the middle of a set Saturday night in the metal band I’m playing in. I swear this sh!t only happens to me. Of all the things that could go wrong it was the last thing I could think of. Assuming it was the head until I took the xlr into the sans amp and got no signal. Hallowed be thy name actually sounded pretty good without me tho :/

 

[Jolagh]

If you use a cab that doesn't color your tone to be too bright, or "modern" sounding, any good head with a comprehensive EQ will get you where you want to go. The number of pedals out there to create gnarly tones, from drive to full on fuzz, are too many to mention. IMO, getting all wrapped up in "tube tone" is something for guitar players to worry about.
In this genre there aren't many bass players with hi fidelity, articulate tones. That is sort of the opposite of what a lot of players are after. It is harder to get a clear tone with substantial character than a wooly mass of sound that will shake the teeth out of your head. Pedals and Pre amps are your friend. If you want to get weird about it, get a small guitar head and 2x12 cab, stack it with a small class D bass rig, and go to town.

Yeaah im not saying you have to have a tube amp to get a good tone. Just for me personally ive tried a bunch of different stuff and if you are looking for tube sound theres only one way to get all the way there. Ive played shows with class d heads and tube heads and none of it matters to anyone but me in the end. Good songs will sound good through any equipment and bad songs will sound bad through the best equipment. I just like my tube heads to everything else ive tried so far.

 

[lucas303]

Apropos of nothing, "heirloom doom metal" is a term I saw for the first time today and hope to never see again.

 

[socialleper]

Apropos of nothing, "heirloom doom metal" is a term I saw for the first time today and hope to never see again.

By Al Cisneros' beard, what does that mean?

 

[socialleper]

Apropos of nothing, "heirloom doom metal" is a term I saw for the first time today and hope to never see again.

By Al Cisneros' beard, what does that mean?

 

[br1qbat]

Vintage with one of those 1890s style twisty moustaches?

 

[Jolagh]

By Al Cisneros' beard, what does that mean?

Doom metal what that your grandpa would have smoked too.

 

[ihaveaquestion]

I assume it weighs a ton
But I don't care much about that, "heavy basses for heavy riffs"

I played with a strap for the first time yesterday, and after just a few minutes i was already fatigued. And my bass has a basswood body. Seriously, how can you guys handle that?
Does it take a certain time to get used to, or am i just too soft, and should get a short scale or hollow body?

 

[oZZma]

I played with a strap for the first time yesterday, and after just a few minutes i was already fatigued. And my bass has a basswood body. Seriously, how can you guys handle that?
Does it take a certain time to get used to, or am i just too soft, and should get a short scale or hollow body?

I found that a VERY wide strap makes a lot of difference

 

[themarshall]

I played with a strap for the first time yesterday, and after just a few minutes i was already fatigued. And my bass has a basswood body. Seriously, how can you guys handle that?
Does it take a certain time to get used to, or am i just too soft, and should get a short scale or hollow body?

Unless you have physical limitations, give it time. Everything changes a little bit standing vs sitting. There’s a good chance that’s causing you to tense up a little bit, which can wear you out quickly.

 

[220_Hz]

I played with a strap for the first time yesterday, and after just a few minutes i was already fatigued. And my bass has a basswood body. Seriously, how can you guys handle that?
Does it take a certain time to get used to, or am i just too soft, and should get a short scale or hollow body?

I bought a set of those fuzzy pads for car seatbelts to put on my bass straps! was only around $10 and I feel like they help my shoulder when wearing heavier basses (9-12 lbs) for long periods of time

 

[rutrho]

Wider straps help a lot. Lighter basses help as well, but just standing around and playing for an hour or two as part of your practice routine is a good to get used to playing in that position. It just some takes some practice and time getting used to it.

 

[jollygiantchris]

Wider straps help a lot. Lighter basses help as well, but just standing around and playing for an hour or two as part of your practice routine is a good to get used to playing in that position. It just some takes some practice and time getting used to it.

^^^^^
Great advice and you need to practice standing as much as possible if you ever intend to play out, its a pretty big jump between sitting/standing/ and actually moving around while playing. It's also a cheeseball way to burn some extra calories. I wouldn't switch to a short scale or hollowbody yet, since you're in the Doom thread I'd question how difficult controlling feedback with a hollowbody would be given the levels of distortion we are all using too.

More NWOBHM then doom maybe but I think the new Spirit Adrift is turning into my favorite album this year if anyone here hadn't heard it.


I feel compelled to ask does anyone here want to weigh in on the new Baroness? They are officially off my buy new albums no matter what list after Green & Yellow but I want to like them because Red and Blue are so great but I'm not buying it without hearing some more opinions

 

[rutrho]

^^^^^
Great advice and you need to practice standing as much as possible if you ever intend to play out, its a pretty big jump between sitting/standing/ and actually moving around while playing. It's also a cheeseball way to burn some extra calories. I wouldn't switch to a short scale or hollowbody yet, since you're in the Doom thread I'd question how difficult controlling feedback with a hollowbody would be given the levels of distortion we are all using too.

More NWOBHM then doom maybe but I think the new Spirit Adrift is turning into my favorite album this year if anyone here hadn't heard it.


I feel compelled to ask does anyone here want to weigh in on the new Baroness? They are officially off my buy new albums no matter what list after Green & Yellow but I want to like them because Red and Blue are so great but I'm not buying it without hearing some more opinions

I liked the album, just... the compression needs to be dialed way the hell back. Good song writing, poor production imo.

 

[socialleper]

Yeaah im not saying you have to have a tube amp to get a good tone. Just for me personally ive tried a bunch of different stuff and if you are looking for tube sound theres only one way to get all the way there. Ive played shows with class d heads and tube heads and none of it matters to anyone but me in the end. Good songs will sound good through any equipment and bad songs will sound bad through the best equipment. I just like my tube heads to everything else ive tried so far.

“Good” tone is totally subjective. That’s why we have so much gear to pick from.

^^^^^
Great advice and you need to practice standing as much as possible if you ever intend to play out, its a pretty big jump between sitting/standing/ and actually moving around while playing. It's also a cheeseball way to burn some extra calories. I wouldn't switch to a short scale or hollowbody yet, since you're in the Doom thread I'd question how difficult controlling feedback with a hollowbody would be given the levels of distortion we are all using too.

More NWOBHM then doom maybe but I think the new Spirit Adrift is turning into my favorite album this year if anyone here hadn't heard it.


I feel compelled to ask does anyone here want to weigh in on the new Baroness? They are officially off my buy new albums no matter what list after Green & Yellow but I want to like them because Red and Blue are so great but I'm not buying it without hearing some more opinions

Just put on the Spirit Adrift. Somewhere between Khemmis and Gygax.

Baroness lost me a long time ago. I was ok with the Red album, but couldn't keep me interested after that.
This new one is a little proggy. That might be up some people's alley.